Someone Like Hugh -Draft Complete And EDITING-

Chapter Ten:

Hugh's Pov:

I sat on the edge of the bed, grateful that James had shown me where Amelia's room was. I pulled out the button down shirt and pants he lent me.

I turned on my phone, I had 48 missed calls and over 200 text messages. I scrolled to te text conversation with Joanna and our parents. The first five or six messages were Joanna making excuses. Then the rest in the conversation were our parents trying to salvage our wedding.

I shook my head and opened up my text conversation with Joanna. She just kept asking for a chance to explain, and I would give it to her.

I had never felt romantic feelings for her. I thought I did, but I didn't really know what it was supposed to feel like. It's strange, but with Amelia, I feel this pressure in my chest when I'm not with her. There are always sparks when we touch.

"Does he make you happy?" I texted Joanna.

The little bubble popped up showing she was typing a message.

"Hugh, I am so sorry. I don't know how things became so messy and wrong. What I did was wrong," she sent back.

"Joanna, does he make you happy?" I replied.

"He shouldn't but he does. I love you Hugh, I really do, but this is different. You were always there growing up, and we were kind of just forced and expected to be together. I love you, but like a relative, a companion. Someone I could spend my whole life with and be content, but never really fall in love with," she replied.

"That's exactly how I feel. You're my best friend and a sister rolled into one. It hurts that you couldn't tell me you found someone you loved. We used to tell eachother everything. But I understand. Go on our honeymoon with him. It's nonrefundable," I sent back.

"Are you safe? Our parents and the media are in a frenzy. They've been trying to find you," she replied.

"I'm safe, I'll shut off my phone so they can't try and track me down. Go enjoy yourself Joanna," I replied and shut off my phone.

I felt like a weight had been lifted from my chest. I quickly spiked my hair and changed into the black button down shirt and dress pants. I grabbed the dark red tie and put it on, tying it just right. I then grabbed my glasses from my backpack and slid them on.
I put on my dress shoes from the wedding amd the suit jacket James had given me, and made my way into the hall.

Amelia stood, closing the door to her own room. She wore a black gown with red accents. Her makeup was beautifully done. Her hair had been pulled back into braids that had somehow been twisted into flowers. The small sleeves on her gown covered her shoulders. Black gloves covered from her hands all the way up to the middle of her upper arms.

"You look breathtaking," I smiled.

"Do you want to know a secret?" She smiled. I nodded. She pulled up her gown just slightly to reveal her all black converses. I burst into laughter. "If I'm going to have to dress up for them, I'm going to be comfortable," she laughed. I held my arm out to her, and she took it as we walked down the stairs. We entered the dining room and she quickly removed her arm from mine before anyone could notice.

It felt wrong not having her arm in mine. But when I looked up I saw her mother looking toward us.

"Everyone please take your seats," Delilah called out. We obliged. I sat beside Amelia as waiters and waitresses brought the food out. "Thank you Mrs. Mason, for yet another wonderful spread," Delilah added.

I looked at the table confused. These were all the dishes Amelia had prepared. Instantly I felt her grip my thigh as if to stop the words from falling from my lips. She moved to pull back her hand, but I took it in mine.

"So what did you do today?" A man sitting beside Amelia asked her.

"Henry," she spoke to me, I'd nearly forgotten I was going by my middle name during dinner. "This is my cousin Alan. Today I-" she started but Delilah interrupted.

"Tired lazy little thing. Slept all day while Mrs. Mason and I prepped for the event. It's a shame, I don't know where I went wrong with this one," Delilah spoke.

Amelia hung her head low, keeping her grip on my thigh. "It is true, lately I have been so tired. I apologize mother, I'll do better next time."

"If you spent half as much time contributing as you do with your hair, this could have been a far more grand affair," Delilah continued. At this point, the entire table of 25 or so people (with the exception of her brothers, and I'm assuming from photos I've seen of her stepfather) were glaring at Amelia as if she were garbage. "Hopefully when my illness takes me, you'll rise to the task."

Her hand slid from my lap. "Excuse me," Amelia spoke and gracefully left the room.

"Excuse me as well," I spoke jumping to my feet and following her.